Book reviews: Atlas of the Republic of Austria

Summary

This review assesses the fifth installment of the Atlas of the Republic of Austria, comprising twenty map sheets and bringing several thematic sections close to completion. It highlights innovative cartographic syntheses based on diverse climatic, ecological, demographic, socioeconomic, and spatial-planning data. Notable examples include climate classifications integrating precipitation and temperature indicators; vegetation mapping that incorporates elevation, climate, geology, and characteristic flora; and population maps showing both absolute and relative change while distinguishing natural increase from migration. Further sheets classify socioeconomic, municipal, and agrarian structures and depict commuting, employment, retirement, service provision, and regional formation around supply and labor centers. The review argues that the atlas is distinguished from more analytically oriented national atlases by its emphasis on partial and comprehensive spatial syntheses. Its full value for spatial research, regional planning, and thematic cartography will become apparent once the entire atlas can be evaluated as an integrated work.